Choosing the best homeschool phonics curriculum for kindergarten is one of the first places to start when choosing kindergarten homeschool curriculum.
After all reading is the foundation of every other subject you’ll be teaching.
And teaching phonics to your child doesn’t have to be as frightening as some make it sound.
In addition, many programs teaching reading have a public-school mindset meaning the earlier the better in teaching a child how to read.
While that may work for some children, other children benefit from waiting longer before you introduce a phonics program.
However, all children benefit from direct phonics instructions whenever your child has his start.
Also, arming you with tips after 20+ years of teaching children how to read, I want you to be confident to trust the process.
Homeschool Phonics
However, to trust the process, you need to understand the process.
And it will help you if you know some of the mindsets which exist in the reading world.
When I started homeschooling there was still much debate between whole language teaching versus direct phonics instructions.
As I mentioned that was over 20 years ago. I feel the debate goes on still.
However, I feel that children use both skills to read.
Do all children need the same amount of exposure? Absolutely not. But they all benefit.
Unfortunately, some homeschool families who think their child needs less instruction do not find out until later.
The real struggle or lack of instruction does not show up until third or fourth grade. Sometimes even later.
What is the Science of Reading
So, I remember the first time I heard the term the science of reading. I delved into it.
Basically, it means to understand that research has been developed into how a child learns to read.
Because we want to teach in a way that nurtures how the brain learns to read, we need to be aware of the process.
As you can tell, reading and understanding the science of reading is a comprehensive topic now.
Homeschool Phonics Kindergarten
Instead of trying to understand the science of reading which can take professionals years, focus on knowing that teaching phonics in a sequential approach with 1:1 teaching is the most effective.
Sight words have a place too. But what are sight words?
Sight words are words that teachers expect kids to know (memorize) by sight. Children are wired to articulate or sound out words. But some children with strong memory skills can learn sight words. Basically learning a sight word just means recognizing a symbol and deciphering it.
Children with special needs or who may not have strong memorization skills can fall behind with this process.
If that is the case, work through the other senses to help a child with special needs or a struggling child.
For example, you can:
- point out the part of the sight word your child may be able to articulate. Some sight words have a pair of letters which make a sound your child may know.
- play games with the sight words.
- have the child write the word and then take away the first or last letter and have him write it in. This can help to makes strong connections in the brain.
- use sensory writing. Have your child write in shaving cream, in rice, on the wall.
So, take time to help your kids learn sight words while you choose the best homeschool phonics curriculum for kindergarten.
Also, I’ve included hands-on manipulatives below too.
Other Homeschool Kindergarten Phonics Resources:
Then, you’ll love these other phonics resources below:
- How to Choose a Homeschool Phonics Program Like a Pro (& recommendations)
- 5 Easy Steps to Putting Together Your Own Homeschool Phonics Program
More Tips for Beginner Readers
- 12 of the Best Books For Beginner Readers Being Homeschooled
- How To Determine The Best Beginner Reading Books For Kindergarten & Recommendations
- 6 Boy Approved Books Which Spark the Love of Reading
- How To Get Your First Homeschooled Child Reading
- 10 Best Homeschool Phonics Curriculum For Kindergarten
11 Best Phonics for Homeschool Kindergarten
Teaching kids how to read doesn't have to be hard, you just have to have the right tools.
You'll love these phonics resources.
Package includes: one Teacher's Manual, one Student Packet, and three readers
Provide explicit, systematic phonics instruction and practice in just 15 to 20 minutes a day!
Daily Phonics, Grade 2 helps students in second gradeincluding students learning Englishdevelop the phonics skills necessary to become proficient, on-grade-level readers.
The 32 weekly units in grade 2 cover:
Starfall.com® opened in September 2002 as a free public service to teach children to read.
Since then it has expanded to include language arts and mathematics for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third grade.
Starfall’s emphasis on phonemic awareness, systematic sequential phonics, and common sight words in conjunction with audiovisual interactivity has proven effective in teaching emergent readers
Explode the Code is a research-based, multisensory program geared to improving literacy with direct, systematic, phonics instruction.
Progressive Phonics all-in-one reading program that is easy, fun, and totally FREE---that's right, totally and completely free.
And with Progressive Phonics, ANYONE can teach a child to read and write in just a few minutes a day, which makes it ideal for parents, teachers, tutors, volunteers and home-schoolers.
Help you child learn to read and spell - while having fun. Teachers and parents are raving about it! This first step in the Logic of English Foundations series opens the door to reading with phonemic
awareness activities, fun lessons that practice the sounds of a-z, and creative blending games
Prepare your child for a lifetime of reading and successful learning with the Horizons Kindergarten Phonics & Reading Student Book 1 from Alpha Omega Publications.
Adventures in Pine Hollow is designed to engage students so thoroughly that whether they can’t wait to read or would rather wait forever, they are pulled into a forest world, where they join critter adventures and forget there’s learning going on!
First Start Reading covers consonants, short and long vowels, 45 common words, and manuscript
printing, accompanied by artist-drawn coloring pictures and drawing pages for every letter.
Mr. Blumenfeld created Alpha-Phonics (spiral-bound) to provide parents, teachers and tutors with a sensible, logical, easy-to-use system for teaching reading. It is an intensive phonics instruction
program based on the author's many years of research and experience in the reading instruction field
